US20220242123A1 - Liquid discharge head, head module, head device, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus - Google Patents
Liquid discharge head, head module, head device, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20220242123A1 US20220242123A1 US17/567,893 US202217567893A US2022242123A1 US 20220242123 A1 US20220242123 A1 US 20220242123A1 US 202217567893 A US202217567893 A US 202217567893A US 2022242123 A1 US2022242123 A1 US 2022242123A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- liquid discharge
- head
- nozzle
- liquid
- line
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 195
- 239000000758 substrate Substances 0.000 claims abstract description 36
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 11
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000011159 matrix material Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- 239000011324 bead Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 230000005499 meniscus Effects 0.000 description 31
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 22
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 18
- 230000000052 comparative effect Effects 0.000 description 9
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 9
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 8
- 238000005530 etching Methods 0.000 description 6
- 238000003491 array Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000008859 change Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000000123 paper Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000000243 solution Substances 0.000 description 5
- 239000003086 colorant Substances 0.000 description 4
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 4
- 238000001312 dry etching Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 4
- 238000009623 Bosch process Methods 0.000 description 3
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 3
- 230000001902 propagating effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000839 emulsion Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000002245 particle Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000012545 processing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002994 raw material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000004044 response Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000725 suspension Substances 0.000 description 2
- OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N Calcium Chemical compound [Ca] OYPRJOBELJOOCE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000007792 addition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000001413 amino acids Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000560 biocompatible material Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052791 calcium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011575 calcium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000919 ceramic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 238000001816 cooling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 125000004122 cyclic group Chemical group 0.000 description 1
- 238000012217 deletion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000037430 deletion Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000006866 deterioration Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005469 granulation Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000003179 granulation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000005484 gravity Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 244000145841 kine Species 0.000 description 1
- 239000010985 leather Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 210000000056 organ Anatomy 0.000 description 1
- 239000003960 organic solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012466 permeate Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000000049 pigment Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004033 plastic Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012805 post-processing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000003825 pressing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 102000004169 proteins and genes Human genes 0.000 description 1
- 108090000623 proteins and genes Proteins 0.000 description 1
- 230000009467 reduction Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 239000002904 solvent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000001179 sorption measurement Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000004381 surface treatment Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004094 surface-active agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 1
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000004804 winding Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002023 wood Substances 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
- B41J2/1607—Production of print heads with piezoelectric elements
- B41J2/161—Production of print heads with piezoelectric elements of film type, deformed by bending and disposed on a diaphragm
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
- B41J2/14201—Structure of print heads with piezoelectric elements
- B41J2/14233—Structure of print heads with piezoelectric elements of film type, deformed by bending and disposed on a diaphragm
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
- B41J2/1433—Structure of nozzle plates
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
- B41J2/162—Manufacturing of the nozzle plates
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/16—Production of nozzles
- B41J2/1621—Manufacturing processes
- B41J2/1626—Manufacturing processes etching
- B41J2/1628—Manufacturing processes etching dry etching
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2/00—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed
- B41J2/005—Typewriters or selective printing mechanisms characterised by the printing or marking process for which they are designed characterised by bringing liquid or particles selectively into contact with a printing material
- B41J2/01—Ink jet
- B41J2/135—Nozzles
- B41J2/14—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads
- B41J2002/14475—Structure thereof only for on-demand ink jet heads characterised by nozzle shapes or number of orifices per chamber
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
- B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
- B41J2202/11—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads characterised by specific geometrical characteristics
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
- B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
- B41J2202/19—Assembling head units
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
- B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
- B41J2202/00—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet or thermal heads
- B41J2202/01—Embodiments of or processes related to ink-jet heads
- B41J2202/20—Modules
Definitions
- An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a liquid discharge head, a head module, a head device, a liquid discharge device, and a liquid discharge apparatus.
- An inkjet printer as an example of a liquid discharge apparatus discharges a minute liquid droplet of ink from a liquid discharge head onto a recording medium to form an image pattern on the recording medium.
- the liquid discharge head includes a pressure generator that applies a discharge pressure to a liquid in a liquid chamber communicating with a nozzle.
- the pressure generator may include a piezoelectric element including a thin-film piezoelectric body, for example.
- a voltage is applied between electrodes formed on both surfaces of a thin-film piezoelectric body so that the thin-film piezoelectric body tends to contract in a surface direction.
- the diaphragm does not contract so that a bending deformation occurs.
- the liquid discharge head of the above type bends a wall of the liquid chamber facing the nozzle to increase or decrease a volume of the liquid chamber to generate pressure in the liquid chamber to discharge a liquid in the liquid chamber from the nozzle.
- a displacement amount of the diaphragm that receives a force from the piezoelectric element is not uniform.
- a direction of the pressure applied to the liquid (ink) filled in the liquid chamber is not perpendicular to a surface of the diaphragm as a whole. Therefore, even if the nozzle is vertically formed in the wall of the liquid chamber, the liquid (ink) droplet is not discharged from the nozzle in a vertical direction with respect to the liquid discharge head.
- a problem occurs in which the liquid (ink) is discharged in an inclined state and a printing position is deviated.
- a bending of the discharged liquid (ink) droplet cause a deviation in a landing position of the liquid (ink) droplet on the recording medium and a deviation in the printing position (printing gap).
- An increase in the deviation in the printing position (printing gap) affects printing quality.
- a liquid discharge head having a nozzle substrate including a nozzle from which a liquid is discharged in a liquid discharge direction, a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle, a diaphragm defining a part of wall of the pressure chamber, and a pressure generator on a first surface of the diaphragm opposite to a second surface of the diaphragm facing the pressure chamber, the pressure generator configured to deform the diaphragm.
- a gap between a first line and a second line is 40 ⁇ m or less in a direction perpendicular to the liquid discharge direction, where the first line extends, in the liquid discharge direction, from a displacement center at which the diaphragm deforms with a maximum displacement amount, and the second line extends from a central position of the nozzle in the liquid discharge direction.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid discharge head according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure
- FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a nozzle substrate and a nozzle
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the nozzle substrate including the nozzle illustrating a meniscus in the nozzle;
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a liquid discharge head according to a comparative example along a longitudinal direction of a pressure chamber;
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a liquid discharge head according to a comparative example along the longitudinal direction of the pressure chamber;
- FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional side views of the pressure chamber of the liquid discharge head according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure
- FIG. 7A is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the liquid discharge head according to a second embodiment
- FIG. 7B is a schematic plan view of a diaphragm of the liquid discharge head according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure
- FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the liquid discharge head according to the second embodiment illustrating the meniscus in the nozzle;
- FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating a result of measurement of a discharge bending amount of the liquid discharge head according to the comparative example.
- FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating a result of measurement of a discharge bending amount of the liquid discharge head according to the second embodiment
- FIG. 11 is a side view of a liquid discharge apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 12 is a plan view of a head device of the liquid discharge apparatus of FIG. 11 ;
- FIG. 13 is a plan view of a main part of a liquid discharge apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of a main part of the liquid discharge apparatus of FIG. 13 ;
- FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view of a main part of a still another example of a liquid discharge device
- FIG. 16 is a front view of a still another example of the liquid discharge device.
- FIG. 17 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an example of a head module
- FIG. 18 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an example of a head module viewed from a nozzle surface.
- FIG. 19 illustrates an example of a matrix arrangement of the nozzles.
- a basic configuration of a liquid discharge head 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3 .
- the liquid discharge head 100 is simply referred to as a “head 100 ”.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the head 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views of nozzles 6 of a nozzle substrate 30 (nozzle plate).
- the bead 100 includes an actuator substrate 10 , sub-frame substrate 20 , and the nozzle substrate 30 .
- the head 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 is of a side shooter type that discharges a liquid from nozzles 6 formed in a nozzle surface 32 of the nozzle substrate 30 .
- the nozzle surface 32 is a surface of the nozzle substrate 30 .
- the nozzles 6 are formed in the nozzle substrate 30 at positions corresponding to the pressure chambers 5 , respectively.
- the actuator substrate 10 includes a piezoelectric element 2 and a diaphragm 3 .
- the piezoelectric element 2 generates energy to discharge the liquid from the nozzle 6 .
- the actuator substrate 10 further includes partition walls 4 , pressure chambers 5 , fluid restrictors 7 , and common channels 9 .
- the partition walls 4 serve as pressure-chamber partition walls.
- Each pressure chamber 5 is partitioned by the partition walls 4 .
- the sub-frame substrate 20 includes a supply port 66 , a through hole 67 , and a gap.
- the supply port 66 supplies the liquid to the head 100 from an exterior of the head 100 .
- the through hole 67 communicates with the supply port 66 .
- the gap is formed in the sub-frame substrate 20 to enable the diaphragm 3 to bend.
- the through hole 67 communicates with a through hole of the actuator substrate 10 .
- the nozzle substrate 30 , the actuator substrate 10 , and the sub-frame substrate 20 are bonded to form the head 100 .
- the head 100 is to be dischargeable the liquid in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 32 (discharge surface) of the nozzle substrate 30 . That is, the head 100 is to be dischargeable the liquid in a direction perpendicular to a recording surface of a recording medium disposed parallel to the nozzle surface 32 (discharge surface). For example, streaks may be formed in an image on the recording medium so that image quality of the image on the recording medium may be deteriorated when the liquid is obliquely discharged by the head 100 of the printer 500 (inkjet recording apparatus).
- a shape or the like of the nozzle 6 as the discharge port of a liquid droplet (ink droplet) is configured to prevent an occurrence of such a problem of an oblique discharge in the present embodiment.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the nozzle substrate 30 and the nozzle 6 .
- the head 100 has the nozzle 6 having a stepped shape (having two stages) such that the nozzle 6 has two different cross-sectional areas of cylinders formed by inner wall surfaces 31 a and 31 b of the nozzle 6 as illustrated in FIG. 2 .
- the nozzle 6 includes an upper cylinder having a diameter “Wb” and a lower cylinder having a diameter “Wa”.
- the upper cylinder is formed by an inner wall surface 31 b
- the lower cylinder is formed by an inner wall surface 31 a as illustrated in FIG. 2 .
- the inner wall surfaces 31 a and 31 b of the nozzle 6 are collectively referred to as a “inner wall surface 31 ”.
- the head 100 can improve a resolution of the image and form a high-quality image.
- the head 100 includes an introduction portion having a diameter “Wb” larger than the diameter “Wa” of the nozzle 6 to reduce a fluid resistance of the nozzle 6 .
- Factors of a nozzle shape to vertically discharge a liquid droplet include: (A) the nozzle 6 is formed vertically with respect to the nozzle substrate 30 , (B) a cross-sectional shape of the nozzle 6 in a plan view is a perfect circle, and (C) the inner wall surface 31 of the nozzle 6 is smooth.
- Examples of a method of forming the nozzle 6 include a press method of forming holes in the nozzle substrate 30 by pressing if the nozzle substrate 30 is a metal plate. If the nozzle substrate 30 is a Si substrate, a dry etching method in which holes are formed by etching may be used.
- the dry etching method is superior in terms of high controllability of the shape of the nozzle 6 .
- Examples of the dry etching method include ion-assisted anisotropic etching and anisotropic etching using the Bosch process.
- a former method ion-assisted anisotropic etching
- a latter method anisotropic etching using the Bosch process
- the nozzle 6 is preferably formed by dry etching using the Bosch process.
- FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the nozzle substrate 30 including the nozzle 6 .
- FIG. 3 illustrates a meniscus in the nozzle 6 .
- FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional side views of a head according to a comparative example along a longitudinal direction of the pressure chamber 5 .
- the piezoelectric element 2 (actuator) serves as a pressure generator to deform the diaphragm 3 .
- the piezoelectric element 2 has a restriction portion in which a deformation of the piezoelectric element 2 is restricted by a wiring layer 40 such as an electrode.
- a deformation of the diaphragm 3 received by the piezoelectric element 2 may not be symmetrical in a lateral direction and in a vertical direction.
- a deformation region “ 3 a ” is indicated by a broken line in FIG. 4 .
- the deformation region “ 3 a ” schematically illustrates a state in which the diaphragm 3 is deformed.
- a right end of the piezoelectric element 2 is in the restriction state due to a contact of the wiring layer 40 of an upper electrode.
- a displacement center “R” of the diaphragm 3 in the deformation region 3 a is shifted leftward from a central position of (based on) the piezoelectric element 2 and the pressure chamber 5 .
- the diaphragm 3 deforms with a maximum displacement amount at the displacement center R.
- FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the head according to the comparative example illustrating the deformation region 3 a with the menisci M 1 and M 2 .
- a direction of pressure that propagates from the displacement center R to the center of the meniscus changes according to a change in a position of the meniscus between the meniscus M 1 and the meniscus M 2 .
- a liquid discharge direction of the generated ink droplets deviates from a head vertical direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 32 of the head 100 as illustrated in FIG. 5 .
- the liquid discharge direction of the head 100 in FIG. 5 is inclined with respect to the head vertical direction.
- the position of the meniscus changes between the meniscus M 1 and the meniscus M 2 so that a difference “m 2 ” occurs on a recording medium S as a discharge surface as illustrated in FIG. 5 .
- FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating a result of measurement of a discharge bending amount of the head according to the comparative example.
- the discharge bending amount is a difference of the discharged droplet on the recording medium S between the meniscus M 1 and M 2 .
- the “discharge bending amount” is simply referred to as a “bending amount” in FIG. 9 .
- FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional side view of the pressure chamber 5 of the head 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure in a longitudinal direction of the pressure chamber 5 .
- FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional side view of the head 100 according to the first embodiment illustrating the deformation region 3 a with the menisci M 1 and M 2 .
- the piezoelectric element 2 is formed on a back surface (upper surface in FIGS. 6A and 6B ) of the diaphragm 3 opposite to a surface (lower surface in FIGS. 6A and 6B ) of the diaphragm 3 facing the pressure chamber 5 .
- the piezoelectric element 2 apply pressure on the liquid in the pressure chamber 5 .
- the head 100 discharges a liquid to which a pressure is applied by the piezoelectric element 2 from the nozzles 6 as a liquid droplet.
- the second line Q (central axis) extends from a central position of the nozzle 6 in the liquid discharge direction.
- the central position of the nozzle 6 is at the central axis (second line Q) of nozzle 6 in FIGS. 6A and 6B .
- the gap “g” is 40 ⁇ m or less.
- the gap “g” of 40 ⁇ m or less can reduce a positional deviation.
- the gap “g” is to be 20 ⁇ m or less.
- the gap “g” of 20 ⁇ m or less can further reduce the positional deviation.
- a direction of a pressure propagating from the displacement center R to the center of the meniscus does not change even if the position of the meniscus changes between the M 1 and the M 2 .
- the head 100 having the gap “g” of 40 ⁇ m or less can reduce a change in the direction of the pressure propagating from the displacement center R to the center of the meniscus even if the position of the meniscus changes between the M 1 and the M 2 .
- the displacement center R is within the nozzle 6 in a plan view of the nozzle substrate 30 in a direction opposite to the liquid discharge direction (viewed upward from a lower direction in FIGS. 6A and 6B ). That is, the first line P (virtual straight-line) is disposed within an area of the nozzle 6 so that the first line P passes through the nozzle 6 as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B .
- the displacement center R of the deformation region 3 a of the diaphragm 3 is aligned with a position of the nozzle 6 to obtain the head 100 according to the first embodiment without performing complicated processing in a manufacturing process of the head 100 .
- the head 100 according to the first embodiment can reduce an occurrence of a discharge bending regardless of the positions of the meniscus in the nozzle 6 without using a complicated manufacturing process.
- the displacement center R may be disposed within the nozzle 6 in a plan view seen from the liquid discharge direction.
- the diaphragm 3 indicates the maximum deformation amount of the deformation region 3 a at the displacement center R.
- the displacement center R and the position of the nozzle 6 may coincident (align or match) with each other in a plan view of the head 100 viewed in the discharge direction.
- the displacement center R indicates the maximum displacement amount of the deformation region 3 a of the diaphragm 3 .
- FIG. 7B is a schematic plan view of the diaphragm 3 of the head 100 in the liquid discharge direction from the nozzle 6 (nozzle surface 32 ).
- the position of the nozzle 6 a of the bead according the comparative example is indicated by a dashed circle.
- plan view refers to a plan view of the head 100 in the liquid discharge direction from the nozzle 6 (nozzle surface 32 ).
- FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of the head 100 according to the second embodiment illustrating the deformation region 3 a with the menisci M 1 and M 2 .
- the deviation does not occur in the liquid discharge position on the recording medium S even if the position of the meniscus changes between the meniscus M 1 and the meniscus M 2 (see FIG. 6B ).
- the recording medium S serves as a discharge surface.
- the displacement center R of the deformation region 3 a of the diaphragm 3 is aligned with the position of the nozzle 6 to obtain the head 100 according to the second embodiment without performing complicated processing in the manufacturing process of the head 100 .
- the head 100 according to the second embodiment can reduce the occurrence of the discharge bending regardless of the positions of the meniscus in the nozzle 6 .
- the first line P (virtual straight-line) extending from the displacement center R of the diaphragm 3 and the second line Q (central axis) extending from the central position of the nozzle 6 may be coincident (align or match) with each other in the head 100 according to the second embodiment.
- the first line P extends from the displacement center R in the liquid discharge direction (first line) and the second line Q (central axis) of the nozzle 6 may coincident (align or match) with each other.
- the head 100 according to the second embodiment having the above configuration can further reduce the occurrence of discharge bending.
- the first line P extends from the displacement center R in the liquid discharge direction (vertical direction in FIG. 7A )
- FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating a result of measurement of a discharge bending amount of the bead 100 according to the second embodiment.
- the discharge bending amount is a difference of the discharged droplet on the recording medium S between the meniscus M 1 and M 2 .
- the measurement was performed in the same manner as the measurement in the head according to the comparative example as illustrated in FIG. 9 .
- the head 100 according to the second embodiment can reduce the bending amount and the overall variation in the bending amount so that the head 100 can form a high-quality image.
- the gap “g” between the first line P (virtual straight-line extended from the displacement center R of the diaphragm 3 ) and the second kine Q (central axis extended from the central position of nozzle 6 ) was 5 ⁇ m.
- the above measurement was also performed on the head 100 having the gap “g” between the first line P (virtual straight line extended from the displacement center R of the diaphragm 3 ) and the second line Q (central axis extended from the central position of the nozzle 6 ) of 20 ⁇ m.
- the average value of the bending amount was ⁇ 0.23°.
- the head 100 according to the second embodiment includes multiple nozzles 6 arrayed in a matrix form.
- FIG. 19 illustrates an example of a matrix arrangement of the nozzles 6 .
- the multiple nozzles 6 arrayed in the matrix form can increase a nozzle density and reduce crosstalk. Further, the head 100 having the multiple nozzles 6 arrayed in the matrix form can reduce a size of the head 100 .
- FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate an example of a head module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
- FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of the head module 200 .
- FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of the head module 200 viewed from a cover 113 of the head module 200 .
- the head module 200 includes multiple heads 100 as described in the above embodiments.
- the multiple heads 100 are arrayed in staggered manner on the cover 113 as illustrated in FIG. 18 .
- the head module 200 includes multiple heads 100 to discharge a liquid, a base 103 holding the multiple heads 100 , and the cover 113 serving as a nozzle cover of the multiple heads 100 .
- the head module 200 includes a heat radiator 104 , a manifold 105 forming a channel to supply liquid to the multiple heads 1 , a printed circuit board 106 (PCB) coupled to a flexible wiring 101 , and a module case 107 .
- a head driver 102 (driver IC) is mounted on the flexible wiring 101 .
- the printer 500 serving as a liquid discharge apparatus is described in detail below with reference to FIG. 11 .
- An example of the head device is described with reference to FIG. 12 .
- FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the printer 500 as the liquid discharge apparatus according to the present embodiment.
- FIG. 12 is a plan view of the head device of the printer 500 (liquid discharge apparatus) of FIG. 11 according to the present embodiment.
- the printer 500 (liquid discharge apparatus) according to the present embodiment includes the head 100 or the liquid discharge device according to the present embodiment.
- the printer 500 serving as the liquid discharge apparatus includes a feeder 501 , a guide conveyor 503 , a printing device 505 , a dryer 507 , and an ejector 509 .
- the feeder 501 feeds a continuous medium 510 such as a continuous paper or a roiled sheet and as a recording medium.
- the guide conveyor 503 guides and conveys the continuous medium 510 , fed from the feeder 501 , to the printing device 505 .
- the printing device 505 discharges a liquid onto the continuous medium 510 to form an image on the continuous medium 510 .
- the dryer 507 dries the continuous medium 510 .
- the ejector 509 ejects the continuous medium 510 .
- the continuous medium 510 is fed from a winding roller 511 of the feeder 501 , guided and conveyed with rollers of the feeder 501 , the guide conveyor 503 , the dryer 507 , and ejector 509 , and wound around a take-up roller 591 of the ejector 509 .
- the continuous medium 510 is conveyed on a conveyance guide to face a head device 550 and a head device 555 .
- An image is formed with the liquid discharged from the head device 550 , and a post-processing is performed with a treatment liquid discharged from the head device 555 .
- the head module 200 includes multiple heads 100 as described in the above embodiments.
- the multiple heads 100 are arrayed in staggered manner in the head module 200 as illustrated in FIG. 18 .
- the first head device 550 includes, for example, four color full-line head arrays 551 A, 551 B, 551 C, and 551 D from the upstream side in the conveyance direction (a direction from right to left in FIG. 11 ) of the continuous medium 510 .
- the full-line head arrays 551 A, 551 B, 551 C, and 551 D are simply referred to as “head arrays 551 ” when colors are not distinguished.
- Each of the head array 551 may be a head module 200 as illustrated in FIGS. 17 and 18 .
- the head device 550 includes multiple head modules 200 .
- Each of the head arrays 551 is a liquid discharge device to discharge liquid of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) onto the continuous medium 510 conveyed in the conveyance direction of the continuous medium 510 .
- K black
- C cyan
- M magenta
- Y yellow
- number and types of color are not limited to the above-described four colors of K, C, M, and Y and may be any other suitable number and types.
- each head arrays 551 for example, as illustrated in FIG. 12 , the heads 100 are staggered on a base 552 to form the head array 551 .
- the configuration of the head array 551 is not limited to such a configuration.
- the head 100 has a configuration of one of the head 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 .
- FIGS. 13 and 14 Another example of a printer 500 serving as a liquid discharge apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14 .
- FIG. 13 is a plan view of a portion of the printer 500 .
- FIG. 14 is a side view of a portion of the printer 500 of FIG. 13 .
- the printer 500 is a serial-type inkjet recording apparatus, and a carriage 403 is reciprocally moved in a main scanning direction indicated by arrow “MSD” in FIG. 13 by a main scan moving unit 493 .
- the main scan moving unit 493 includes a guide 401 , a main scan motor 405 , a timing belt 408 , and the like.
- the guide 401 is bridged between a left-side plate 491 A and a right-side plate 491 B to movably hold the carriage 403 .
- the main scan motor 405 reciprocally moves the carriage 403 in the main scanning direction MSD via the timing belt 408 bridged between a drive pulley 406 and a driven pulley 407 .
- the carriage 403 mounts a liquid discharge device 440 .
- the head 100 and a head tank 441 forms the liquid discharge device 440 as a single unit.
- the head 100 has a configuration of one of the head 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 8 .
- the head 100 of the liquid discharge device 440 discharges color liquids of, for example, yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K).
- the head 100 includes a nozzle array including the nozzles 6 arrayed in row in a sub scanning direction indicated by arrow “SSD” perpendicular to the main scanning direction MSD in FIG. 13 .
- the head 100 is mounted to the carriage 403 so that liquid droplets (ink droplets) are discharged downward from the nozzles 6 .
- the printer 500 includes a conveyor 495 to convey a sheet 410 .
- the conveyor 495 includes a conveyance belt 412 as a conveyor and a sub scan motor 416 to drive the conveyance belt 412 .
- the conveyance belt 412 rotates in the sub scanning direction SSD as the conveyance roller 413 is rotationally driven by the sub scan motor 416 via the timing belt 417 and the timing pulley 418 .
- a maintenance unit 420 to maintain the head 100 in good condition is disposed on a lateral side (right side in FIG. 13 ) of the conveyance belt 412 .
- the maintenance unit 420 includes, for example, a cap 421 to cap a nozzle surface 32 of the head 100 , a wiper 422 to wipe the nozzle surface 32 , and the like.
- the nozzle surface 32 is an outer surface of the nozzle substrate 30 (see FIG. 1 ) on which the nozzles 6 are formed.
- the main scan moving unit 493 , the maintenance unit 420 , and the conveyor 495 are mounted to a housing that includes the left-side plate 491 A, the right-side plate 491 B, and a rear-side plate 491 C.
- liquid discharge device 440 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to FIGS. 15 and 16 .
- the printer 500 (liquid discharge apparatus) according to another embodiment includes the head 100 or the liquid discharge device 440 according to the present embodiment.
- the liquid discharge device 440 includes the head 100 and at least one of: a head tank 441 that stores liquid to be supplied to the head 100 ; a carriage 403 on which the head 100 is mounted; a supply unit that supplies the liquid to the head 100 ; a maintenance unit 420 that maintains the head 100 ; and a main scan moving unit 493 to move the head 100 in the main scanning direction MSD to form a single unit.
- the liquid discharge device 440 includes a housing, the main scan moving unit 493 , the carriage 403 , and the head 100 among components of the printer 500 in FIG. 13 .
- the left-side plate 491 A, the right-side plate 491 B, and the rear-side plate 491 C constitute the housing.
- FIG. 16 is a front view of still another example of the liquid discharge device 440 .
- the channel part 444 is disposed inside a cover 442 .
- the liquid discharge device 440 may include the head tank 441 described above instead of the channel part 444 .
- a connector 443 electrically connected with the head 100 is provided on an upper part of the channel part 444 .
- the “liquid discharge apparatus” includes the head or the liquid discharge device and drives the head to discharge liquid.
- the liquid discharge apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus capable of discharging liquid to a material to which liquid can adhere or an apparatus to discharge liquid toward gas or into liquid.
- the “liquid discharge apparatus” may include units to feed, convey, and eject the material on which liquid can adhere.
- the liquid discharge apparatus may further include a pretreatment apparatus to coat a treatment liquid onto the material, and a post-treatment apparatus to coat a treatment liquid onto the material, onto which the liquid has been discharged.
- the “liquid discharge apparatus” may be, for example, an image forming apparatus to forum an image on a sheet by discharging ink, or a three-dimensional fabrication apparatus to discharge a fabrication liquid to a powder layer in which powder material is formed in layers to form a three-dimensional fabrication object.
- the “liquid discharge apparatus” is not limited to an apparatus to discharge liquid to visualize meaningful images, such as letters or figures.
- the liquid discharge apparatus may be an apparatus to form arbitrary images, such as arbitrary patterns, or fabricate three-dimensional images.
- the above-described term “material on which liquid can adhere” represents a material on which liquid is at least temporarily adhered, a material on which liquid is adhered and fixed, or a material into which liquid is adhered to permeate.
- Examples of the “material on which liquid can adhere” include recording media, such as paper sheet, recording paper, recording sheet of paper, film, and cloth, electronic component, such as electronic substrate and piezoelectric element, and media, such as powder layer, organ model, and testing cell.
- the “material on which liquid can adhere” includes any material on which liquid is adhered, unless particularly limited.
- Examples of the “material on which liquid can adhere” include any materials on which liquid can adhere even temporarily, such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, and ceramic.
- liquid discharged from the head is not particularly limited as long as the liquid has a viscosity and surface tension of degrees dischargeable from the head.
- the viscosity of the liquid is not greater than 30 mPa ⁇ s under ordinary temperature and ordinary pressure or by heating or cooling.
- the liquid include a solution, a suspension, or an emulsion that contains, for example, a solvent, such as water or an organic solvent, a colorant, such as dye or pigment, a functional material, such as a polymerizable compound, a resin, or a surfactant, a biocompatible material, such as DNA, amino acid, protein, or calcium, or an edible material, such as a natural colorant.
- Such a solution, a suspension, or an emulsion can be used for, e.g., inkjet ink, surface treatment solution, a liquid for forming components of electronic element or light-emitting element or a resist pattern of electronic circuit, or a material solution for three-dimensional fabrication.
- the “liquid discharge apparatus” may be an apparatus to relatively move the head and a material on which liquid can adhere.
- the liquid discharge apparatus is not limited to such an apparatus.
- the liquid discharge apparatus may be a serial head apparatus that moves the head or a line head apparatus that does not move the head.
- liquid discharge apparatus further include a treatment liquid coating apparatus to discharge a treatment liquid to a sheet surface to coat the sheet with the treatment liquid to reform the sheet surface and an injection granulation apparatus to discharge a composition liquid including a raw material dispersed in a solution from a nozzle to mold particles of the raw material.
- the head 100 has a configuration in which the first line P (line extended from the displacement center R of the diaphragm 3 in the discharge direction) and the second lined (central axis Q extended from the central position of the nozzle 6 in the discharge direction) are aligned (matched).
- the head 100 can efficiently apply a pressure in a vertical direction generated by a displacement of the diaphragm 3 to the meniscus.
- the head 100 can reduce an occurrence of a discharge bending regardless of the positions of the meniscus in the nozzle 6 without using a complicated manufacturing process.
Abstract
Description
- This patent application is based on and claims priority pursuant to 35 U.S.C. § 119(a) to Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-013477, filed on Jan. 29, 2021, in the Japan Patent Office, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2021-166829, filed on Oct. 11, 2021, in the Japan Patent Office the entire disclosure of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.
- An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a liquid discharge head, a head module, a head device, a liquid discharge device, and a liquid discharge apparatus.
- An inkjet printer as an example of a liquid discharge apparatus discharges a minute liquid droplet of ink from a liquid discharge head onto a recording medium to form an image pattern on the recording medium.
- The liquid discharge head includes a pressure generator that applies a discharge pressure to a liquid in a liquid chamber communicating with a nozzle. The pressure generator may include a piezoelectric element including a thin-film piezoelectric body, for example. In a structure in which a piezoelectric element and a diaphragm are bonded to each other, a voltage is applied between electrodes formed on both surfaces of a thin-film piezoelectric body so that the thin-film piezoelectric body tends to contract in a surface direction. The diaphragm does not contract so that a bending deformation occurs. The liquid discharge head of the above type bends a wall of the liquid chamber facing the nozzle to increase or decrease a volume of the liquid chamber to generate pressure in the liquid chamber to discharge a liquid in the liquid chamber from the nozzle.
- A displacement amount of the diaphragm that receives a force from the piezoelectric element is not uniform. Thus, a direction of the pressure applied to the liquid (ink) filled in the liquid chamber is not perpendicular to a surface of the diaphragm as a whole. Therefore, even if the nozzle is vertically formed in the wall of the liquid chamber, the liquid (ink) droplet is not discharged from the nozzle in a vertical direction with respect to the liquid discharge head. Thus, a problem occurs in which the liquid (ink) is discharged in an inclined state and a printing position is deviated. A bending of the discharged liquid (ink) droplet cause a deviation in a landing position of the liquid (ink) droplet on the recording medium and a deviation in the printing position (printing gap). An increase in the deviation in the printing position (printing gap) affects printing quality.
- A liquid discharge head having a nozzle substrate including a nozzle from which a liquid is discharged in a liquid discharge direction, a pressure chamber communicating with the nozzle, a diaphragm defining a part of wall of the pressure chamber, and a pressure generator on a first surface of the diaphragm opposite to a second surface of the diaphragm facing the pressure chamber, the pressure generator configured to deform the diaphragm. A gap between a first line and a second line is 40 μm or less in a direction perpendicular to the liquid discharge direction, where the first line extends, in the liquid discharge direction, from a displacement center at which the diaphragm deforms with a maximum displacement amount, and the second line extends from a central position of the nozzle in the liquid discharge direction.
- A more complete appreciation of the disclosure and many of the attendant advantages and features thereof can be readily obtained and understood from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a liquid discharge head according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a nozzle substrate and a nozzle; -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the nozzle substrate including the nozzle illustrating a meniscus in the nozzle; -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of a liquid discharge head according to a comparative example along a longitudinal direction of a pressure chamber; -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of a liquid discharge head according to a comparative example along the longitudinal direction of the pressure chamber; -
FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional side views of the pressure chamber of the liquid discharge head according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 7A is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the liquid discharge head according to a second embodiment, andFIG. 7B is a schematic plan view of a diaphragm of the liquid discharge head according to the second embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the liquid discharge head according to the second embodiment illustrating the meniscus in the nozzle; -
FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating a result of measurement of a discharge bending amount of the liquid discharge head according to the comparative example; -
FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating a result of measurement of a discharge bending amount of the liquid discharge head according to the second embodiment; -
FIG. 11 is a side view of a liquid discharge apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 12 is a plan view of a head device of the liquid discharge apparatus ofFIG. 11 ; -
FIG. 13 is a plan view of a main part of a liquid discharge apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; -
FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of a main part of the liquid discharge apparatus ofFIG. 13 ; -
FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view of a main part of a still another example of a liquid discharge device; -
FIG. 16 is a front view of a still another example of the liquid discharge device; -
FIG. 17 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an example of a head module; -
FIG. 18 is a schematic exploded perspective view of an example of a head module viewed from a nozzle surface; and -
FIG. 19 illustrates an example of a matrix arrangement of the nozzles. - The accompanying drawings are intended to depict embodiments of the present invention and should not be interpreted to limit the scope thereof. The accompanying drawings are not to be considered as drawn to scale unless explicitly noted. Also, identical or similar reference numerals designate identical or similar components throughout the several views.
- In describing embodiments illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the disclosure of this specification is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected and it is to be understood that each specific element includes all technical equivalents that have a similar function, operate in a similar manner, and achieve a similar result.
- Referring now to the drawings, embodiments of the present disclosure are described below. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.
- Hereinafter, a liquid discharge head, a head module, a liquid discharge device, and a liquid discharge apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference to the drawings. Note that the following embodiments are not limiting the present disclosure and any deletion, addition, modification, change, etc. can be made within a scope in which person skilled in the art can conceive including other embodiments, and any of which is included within the scope of the present disclosure as long as the effect and feature of the present disclosure are demonstrated.
- [Liquid Discharge Head]
- A basic configuration of a
liquid discharge head 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure is described below with reference toFIGS. 1 to 3 . Hereinafter, theliquid discharge head 100 is simply referred to as a “head 100”. -
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of thehead 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. -
FIGS. 2 and 3 are cross-sectional views ofnozzles 6 of a nozzle substrate 30 (nozzle plate). - The
bead 100 includes anactuator substrate 10,sub-frame substrate 20, and thenozzle substrate 30. Thehead 100 illustrated inFIG. 1 is of a side shooter type that discharges a liquid fromnozzles 6 formed in anozzle surface 32 of thenozzle substrate 30. Thenozzle surface 32 is a surface of thenozzle substrate 30. - Further, the
nozzles 6 are formed in thenozzle substrate 30 at positions corresponding to thepressure chambers 5, respectively. - The
actuator substrate 10 includes apiezoelectric element 2 and adiaphragm 3. Thepiezoelectric element 2 generates energy to discharge the liquid from thenozzle 6. - The
actuator substrate 10 further includespartition walls 4,pressure chambers 5,fluid restrictors 7, andcommon channels 9. Thepartition walls 4 serve as pressure-chamber partition walls. Eachpressure chamber 5 is partitioned by thepartition walls 4. - The
sub-frame substrate 20 includes asupply port 66, a throughhole 67, and a gap. Thesupply port 66 supplies the liquid to thehead 100 from an exterior of thehead 100. The throughhole 67 communicates with thesupply port 66. The gap is formed in thesub-frame substrate 20 to enable thediaphragm 3 to bend. The throughhole 67 communicates with a through hole of theactuator substrate 10. - The
nozzle substrate 30, theactuator substrate 10, and thesub-frame substrate 20 are bonded to form thehead 100. - The
head 100 is to be dischargeable the liquid in a direction perpendicular to the nozzle surface 32 (discharge surface) of thenozzle substrate 30. That is, thehead 100 is to be dischargeable the liquid in a direction perpendicular to a recording surface of a recording medium disposed parallel to the nozzle surface 32 (discharge surface). For example, streaks may be formed in an image on the recording medium so that image quality of the image on the recording medium may be deteriorated when the liquid is obliquely discharged by thehead 100 of the printer 500 (inkjet recording apparatus). A shape or the like of thenozzle 6 as the discharge port of a liquid droplet (ink droplet) is configured to prevent an occurrence of such a problem of an oblique discharge in the present embodiment. -
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of thenozzle substrate 30 and thenozzle 6. - The
head 100 according to the first embodiment has thenozzle 6 having a stepped shape (having two stages) such that thenozzle 6 has two different cross-sectional areas of cylinders formed by inner wall surfaces 31 a and 31 b of thenozzle 6 as illustrated inFIG. 2 . Specifically, thenozzle 6 includes an upper cylinder having a diameter “Wb” and a lower cylinder having a diameter “Wa”. The upper cylinder is formed by aninner wall surface 31 b, and the lower cylinder is formed by aninner wall surface 31 a as illustrated inFIG. 2 . The inner wall surfaces 31 a and 31 b of thenozzle 6 are collectively referred to as a “inner wall surface 31”. - The smaller the diameter “Wa” of the
nozzle 6 in the discharge direction (downward direction inFIG. 2 ), the smaller (more minute) the ink droplet dischargeable from thenozzle 6. Thus, thehead 100 can improve a resolution of the image and form a high-quality image. - Conversely, if a volume in an interior of the
nozzle 6 is small, a fluid resistance of thenozzle 6 increases that reduce a degree of freedom of a discharge control of the liquid. Thus, thehead 100 includes an introduction portion having a diameter “Wb” larger than the diameter “Wa” of thenozzle 6 to reduce a fluid resistance of thenozzle 6. - Factors of a nozzle shape to vertically discharge a liquid droplet (ink droplet) include: (A) the
nozzle 6 is formed vertically with respect to thenozzle substrate 30, (B) a cross-sectional shape of thenozzle 6 in a plan view is a perfect circle, and (C) the inner wall surface 31 of thenozzle 6 is smooth. - Examples of a method of forming the
nozzle 6 include a press method of forming holes in thenozzle substrate 30 by pressing if thenozzle substrate 30 is a metal plate. If thenozzle substrate 30 is a Si substrate, a dry etching method in which holes are formed by etching may be used. - The dry etching method is superior in terms of high controllability of the shape of the
nozzle 6. - Examples of the dry etching method include ion-assisted anisotropic etching and anisotropic etching using the Bosch process. A former method (ion-assisted anisotropic etching) has a characteristic in which a size of a diameter of an etched hole decreases with an increase in a depth of the hole. A latter method (anisotropic etching using the Bosch process) has a characteristic in which a hole can be vertically formed while maintaining a size of the diameter with an increase in a depth of the hole. Therefore, the
nozzle 6 is preferably formed by dry etching using the Bosch process. - Adoption of the etching method having higher perpendicularity of the inner wall surface 31 of the
nozzle 6, such as the Bosch method, can reduce bending of a liquid droplet discharged from thenozzle 6. -
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of thenozzle substrate 30 including thenozzle 6.FIG. 3 illustrates a meniscus in thenozzle 6. - There is a difference “m1” between a meniscus “M1” formed at a position close to the nozzle surface 32 (discharge port) and a meniscus “M2” formed at a position retracted toward the
pressure chamber 5 at a center of thenozzle 6 as illustrated inFIG. 3 . The difference m1 increases with an increase in a length of thenozzle 6. Thus, there is a problem of a decrease in a returning speed of the meniscus and a decrease in a response frequency. -
FIGS. 4 and 5 are cross-sectional side views of a head according to a comparative example along a longitudinal direction of thepressure chamber 5. - The piezoelectric element 2 (actuator) serves as a pressure generator to deform the
diaphragm 3. Thepiezoelectric element 2 has a restriction portion in which a deformation of thepiezoelectric element 2 is restricted by awiring layer 40 such as an electrode. Thus, a deformation of thediaphragm 3 received by thepiezoelectric element 2 may not be symmetrical in a lateral direction and in a vertical direction. A deformation region “3 a” is indicated by a broken line inFIG. 4 . The deformation region “3 a” schematically illustrates a state in which thediaphragm 3 is deformed. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 4 and 5 , a right end of thepiezoelectric element 2 is in the restriction state due to a contact of thewiring layer 40 of an upper electrode. Thus, a displacement center “R” of thediaphragm 3 in thedeformation region 3 a is shifted leftward from a central position of (based on) thepiezoelectric element 2 and thepressure chamber 5. Thediaphragm 3 deforms with a maximum displacement amount at the displacement center R. - Further, a virtual straight line “P” extends from the displacement center R in the liquid discharge direction (vertically downward direction in
FIG. 4 ) does not coincident (match or align) with a central axis Q of thenozzle 6 as a discharge port and overlap with thenozzle substrate 30. The “virtual straight line P” is also referred to as a “first line P”. - A central axis of the
nozzle 6 is indicated by “Q” in a right side of a dash-single-dot line inFIGS. 4 and 5 . The central axis Q of thenozzle 6 extends from a central position of thenozzle 6 in a vertical direction. The “central axis Q” is also referred to as a “second line Q”. - A gap between the first line P (virtual straight line) and the second line Q (central axis) in a direction perpendicular to the liquid discharge direction (horizontal direction in
FIG. 4 ) is, for example, about 65 μm inFIGS. 4 and 5 . - The displacement center R is a position indicating the maximum displacement amount of an amplitude of
diaphragm 3. The displacement center R can be indicated by dots in a cross-section in a transverse direction and in a longitudinal direction of thediaphragm 3. -
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the head according to the comparative example illustrating thedeformation region 3 a with the menisci M1 and M2. - If the ink is discharged in this state illustrated in
FIG. 5 in which there is the gap between the first line P (virtual straight line) and the second line Q (central axis), a direction of pressure that propagates from the displacement center R to the center of the meniscus changes according to a change in a position of the meniscus between the meniscus M1 and the meniscus M2. Thus, a liquid discharge direction of the generated ink droplets deviates from a head vertical direction perpendicular to thenozzle surface 32 of thehead 100 as illustrated inFIG. 5 . Thus, the liquid discharge direction of thehead 100 inFIG. 5 is inclined with respect to the head vertical direction. - The position of the meniscus changes between the meniscus M1 and the meniscus M2 so that a difference “m2” occurs on a recording medium S as a discharge surface as illustrated in
FIG. 5 . -
FIG. 9 is a graph illustrating a result of measurement of a discharge bending amount of the head according to the comparative example. The discharge bending amount is a difference of the discharged droplet on the recording medium S between the meniscus M1 and M2. Hereinafter, the “discharge bending amount” is simply referred to as a “bending amount” inFIG. 9 . - The bending amount was measured under following conditions by a binarization processing program “SOGAS℠” using a particle forming apparatus for capturing discharged images. The binarization processing program “SOGAS℠” is used for calculating a center of gravity of the discharged droplets.
- Driving conditions: 10 kHz Waveform: simple PULL waveform Temperature: 23° C. Stage-by-stage driving (four stages/column×two columns=eight stages)
- As a result of measurement, an average value of the discharge deflection amount was −0.32°, and 3σ was 0.25°.
- The above configuration has a large bending amount of discharged ink and a large overall variation in the bending amount that may cause a deterioration in a formed image on the recording medium S.
-
FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional side view of thepressure chamber 5 of thehead 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure in a longitudinal direction of thepressure chamber 5. -
FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional side view of thehead 100 according to the first embodiment illustrating thedeformation region 3 a with the menisci M1 and M2. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 6A and 6B , thehead 100 according to the first embodiment has thenozzle substrate 30, thepressure chamber 5, thediaphragm 3, and thepiezoelectric element 2. Thenozzle substrate 30 includesnozzles 6 to discharge a liquid on thenozzle surface 32. Thepressure chamber 5 communicates with thenozzles 6. Thediaphragm 3 forms a part of wall of thepressure chamber 5. Thepiezoelectric element 2 serves as a pressure generator. - The
piezoelectric element 2 is formed on a back surface (upper surface inFIGS. 6A and 6B ) of thediaphragm 3 opposite to a surface (lower surface inFIGS. 6A and 6B ) of thediaphragm 3 facing thepressure chamber 5. Thepiezoelectric element 2 apply pressure on the liquid in thepressure chamber 5. Thehead 100 discharges a liquid to which a pressure is applied by thepiezoelectric element 2 from thenozzles 6 as a liquid droplet. - A gap “g” indicated in
FIG. 6A is a distance between a first line (left dash-single-dot line) and a second line (right dash-single-dot line) in a direction perpendicular to the liquid discharge direction (lateral direction or horizontal direction inFIG. 6A ). - The first line P extends from the displacement center R indicating the maximum displacement amount of the
deformation region 3 a of thediaphragm 3 in a liquid discharge direction (vertically downward direction inFIG. 6A ). - The second line Q (central axis) extends from a central position of the
nozzle 6 in the liquid discharge direction. The central position of thenozzle 6 is at the central axis (second line Q) ofnozzle 6 inFIGS. 6A and 6B . The gap “g” is 40 μm or less. - The gap “g” of 40 μm or less can reduce a positional deviation. The gap “g” is to be 20 μm or less. The gap “g” of 20 μm or less can further reduce the positional deviation.
- The gap “g” (distance) between the first line and the second line in a direction (horizontal direction in
FIG. 6A ) perpendicular to the liquid discharge direction (vertical direction inFIG. 6A ) may be a gap between first line P (virtual straight-line) and the second line Q (central axis). In the above-described comparative example, the gap between the first line P (virtual straight-line) and the second line Q (central axis) inFIGS. 4 and 5 is about 65 μm that is larger than the gap “g” in thehead 100 according to the first embodiment of the present disclosure. - In the
head 100 having the gap “g” of 40 μm or less, a direction of a pressure propagating from the displacement center R to the center of the meniscus does not change even if the position of the meniscus changes between the M1 and the M2. Thehead 100 having the gap “g” of 40 μm or less can reduce a change in the direction of the pressure propagating from the displacement center R to the center of the meniscus even if the position of the meniscus changes between the M1 and the M2. - Therefore, the liquid discharge direction of the ink droplet is not deviated from the head vertical direction perpendicular to the
nozzle surface 32 of thehead 100. As illustrated inFIG. 6B , a deviation does not occur in a liquid discharge position on the recording medium S even if the position of the meniscus changes between the meniscus M1 and the meniscus M2 (seeFIG. 6B ). The recording medium S serves as a discharge surface. - The displacement center R is within the
nozzle 6 in a plan view of thenozzle substrate 30 in a direction opposite to the liquid discharge direction (viewed upward from a lower direction inFIGS. 6A and 6B ). That is, the first line P (virtual straight-line) is disposed within an area of thenozzle 6 so that the first line P passes through thenozzle 6 as illustrated inFIGS. 6A and 6B . - The displacement center R of the
deformation region 3 a of thediaphragm 3 is aligned with a position of thenozzle 6 to obtain thehead 100 according to the first embodiment without performing complicated processing in a manufacturing process of thehead 100. Thehead 100 according to the first embodiment can reduce an occurrence of a discharge bending regardless of the positions of the meniscus in thenozzle 6 without using a complicated manufacturing process. - A distance between the displacement center R and the central position of the
nozzle 6 may be 40 μm or less in thehead 100 according to the first embodiment in a plan view of thehead 100 seen from the liquid discharge direction. The displacement center R indicates the maximum displacement amount of thedeformation region 3 a of thediaphragm 3. - Next, the
head 100 according to a second embodiment of the present disclosure (another example) is described below. - In the
head 100 according to the second embodiment, the displacement center R may be disposed within thenozzle 6 in a plan view seen from the liquid discharge direction. Thediaphragm 3 indicates the maximum deformation amount of thedeformation region 3 a at the displacement center R. The displacement center R and the position of thenozzle 6 may coincident (align or match) with each other in a plan view of thehead 100 viewed in the discharge direction. The displacement center R indicates the maximum displacement amount of thedeformation region 3 a of thediaphragm 3. -
FIGS. 7A and 8 are schematic cross-sectional side views of thehead 100 according to the second embodiment along a longitudinal direction of thepressure chamber 5 of thehead 100. -
FIG. 7B is a schematic plan view of thediaphragm 3 of thehead 100 in the liquid discharge direction from the nozzle 6 (nozzle surface 32). InFIG. 7B , the position of thenozzle 6 a of the bead according the comparative example is indicated by a dashed circle. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 7B and 8 , the displacement center R and the position of thenozzle 6 coincident (align or match) with each other in a plan view of thehead 100 in the liquid discharge direction from the nozzle 6 (nozzle surface 32) in thehead 100 according to the second embodiment. The displacement center R indicates the maximum displacement amount of thedeformation region 3 a of thediaphragm 3. - The term “plan view” refers to a plan view of the
head 100 in the liquid discharge direction from the nozzle 6 (nozzle surface 32). -
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of thehead 100 according to the second embodiment illustrating thedeformation region 3 a with the menisci M1 and M2. - In the
head 100 according to the second embodiment, the direction of the pressure propagating from the displacement center R to the center of the meniscus does not change even if the position of the meniscus changes between the M1 and the M2. Therefore, the liquid discharge direction of the ink droplet is not deviated from the head vertical direction perpendicular to thenozzle surface 32 of thehead 100. - As illustrated in
FIG. 8 , the deviation does not occur in the liquid discharge position on the recording medium S even if the position of the meniscus changes between the meniscus M1 and the meniscus M2 (seeFIG. 6B ). The recording medium S serves as a discharge surface. - The displacement center R of the
deformation region 3 a of thediaphragm 3 is aligned with the position of thenozzle 6 to obtain thehead 100 according to the second embodiment without performing complicated processing in the manufacturing process of thehead 100. Thehead 100 according to the second embodiment can reduce the occurrence of the discharge bending regardless of the positions of the meniscus in thenozzle 6. - The first line P (virtual straight-line) extending from the displacement center R of the
diaphragm 3 and the second line Q (central axis) extending from the central position of thenozzle 6 may be coincident (align or match) with each other in thehead 100 according to the second embodiment. - That is, the first line P (virtual straight-line) extends from the displacement center R in the liquid discharge direction (first line) and the second line Q (central axis) of the
nozzle 6 may coincident (align or match) with each other. Thehead 100 according to the second embodiment having the above configuration can further reduce the occurrence of discharge bending. The first line P (virtual straight-line) extends from the displacement center R in the liquid discharge direction (vertical direction inFIG. 7A ) -
FIG. 10 is a graph illustrating a result of measurement of a discharge bending amount of thebead 100 according to the second embodiment. The discharge bending amount is a difference of the discharged droplet on the recording medium S between the meniscus M1 and M2. - The measurement was performed in the same manner as the measurement in the head according to the comparative example as illustrated in
FIG. 9 . - As a result of measurement, an average value of the discharge bending amount was −0.13°, and 3σ (three-sigma value) was 0.19°.
- In the above-described way, the
head 100 according to the second embodiment can reduce the bending amount and the overall variation in the bending amount so that thehead 100 can form a high-quality image. - At this time, the gap “g” between the first line P (virtual straight-line extended from the displacement center R of the diaphragm 3) and the second kine Q (central axis extended from the central position of nozzle 6) was 5 μm.
- Similarly, the above measurement was also performed on the
head 100 having the gap “g” between the first line P (virtual straight line extended from the displacement center R of the diaphragm 3) and the second line Q (central axis extended from the central position of the nozzle 6) of 20 μm. As a result, the average value of the bending amount was −0.23°. Thus, it is observed that a reduction of the gap can reduce the positional deviation. - The
head 100 according to the second embodiment includesmultiple nozzles 6 arrayed in a matrix form.FIG. 19 illustrates an example of a matrix arrangement of thenozzles 6. - The
multiple nozzles 6 arrayed in the matrix form can increase a nozzle density and reduce crosstalk. Further, thehead 100 having themultiple nozzles 6 arrayed in the matrix form can reduce a size of thehead 100. - [Head Module]
-
FIGS. 17 and 18 illustrate an example of a head module according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. -
FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view of thehead module 200. -
FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of thehead module 200 viewed from acover 113 of thehead module 200. - The
head module 200 according to the present embodiment includesmultiple heads 100 as described in the above embodiments. Themultiple heads 100 are arrayed in staggered manner on thecover 113 as illustrated inFIG. 18 . - The
head module 200 includesmultiple heads 100 to discharge a liquid, abase 103 holding themultiple heads 100, and thecover 113 serving as a nozzle cover of themultiple heads 100. - Further, the
head module 200 includes aheat radiator 104, a manifold 105 forming a channel to supply liquid to the multiple heads 1, a printed circuit board 106 (PCB) coupled to aflexible wiring 101, and amodule case 107. A head driver 102 (driver IC) is mounted on theflexible wiring 101. - [Head Device, Liquid Discharge Device, and Liquid Discharge Apparatus]
- The
printer 500 serving as a liquid discharge apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is described in detail below with reference toFIG. 11 . An example of the head device is described with reference toFIG. 12 . -
FIG. 11 is a schematic cross-sectional view of theprinter 500 as the liquid discharge apparatus according to the present embodiment. -
FIG. 12 is a plan view of the head device of the printer 500 (liquid discharge apparatus) ofFIG. 11 according to the present embodiment. - The printer 500 (liquid discharge apparatus) according to the present embodiment includes the
head 100 or the liquid discharge device according to the present embodiment. - The
printer 500 serving as the liquid discharge apparatus includes afeeder 501, aguide conveyor 503, aprinting device 505, adryer 507, and anejector 509. Thefeeder 501 feeds acontinuous medium 510 such as a continuous paper or a roiled sheet and as a recording medium. Theguide conveyor 503 guides and conveys thecontinuous medium 510, fed from thefeeder 501, to theprinting device 505. Theprinting device 505 discharges a liquid onto thecontinuous medium 510 to form an image on thecontinuous medium 510. Thedryer 507 dries thecontinuous medium 510. Theejector 509 ejects thecontinuous medium 510. - The
continuous medium 510 is fed from a windingroller 511 of thefeeder 501, guided and conveyed with rollers of thefeeder 501, theguide conveyor 503, thedryer 507, andejector 509, and wound around a take-uproller 591 of theejector 509. - In the
printing device 505, thecontinuous medium 510 is conveyed on a conveyance guide to face ahead device 550 and ahead device 555. An image is formed with the liquid discharged from thehead device 550, and a post-processing is performed with a treatment liquid discharged from thehead device 555. - The
head module 200 according to the present embodiment includesmultiple heads 100 as described in the above embodiments. Themultiple heads 100 are arrayed in staggered manner in thehead module 200 as illustrated inFIG. 18 . - Here, the
first head device 550 includes, for example, four color full-line head arrays FIG. 11 ) of thecontinuous medium 510. Hereinafter, the full-line head arrays head module 200 as illustrated inFIGS. 17 and 18 . Thus, thehead device 550 includesmultiple head modules 200. - Each of the head arrays 551 is a liquid discharge device to discharge liquid of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) onto the
continuous medium 510 conveyed in the conveyance direction of thecontinuous medium 510. Note that number and types of color are not limited to the above-described four colors of K, C, M, and Y and may be any other suitable number and types. - In each head arrays 551, for example, as illustrated in
FIG. 12 , theheads 100 are staggered on a base 552 to form the head array 551. Note that the configuration of the head array 551 is not limited to such a configuration. Thehead 100 has a configuration of one of thehead 100 illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 8 . - Next, another example of a
printer 500 serving as a liquid discharge apparatus according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference toFIGS. 13 and 14 . -
FIG. 13 is a plan view of a portion of theprinter 500. -
FIG. 14 is a side view of a portion of theprinter 500 ofFIG. 13 . - The
printer 500 is a serial-type inkjet recording apparatus, and acarriage 403 is reciprocally moved in a main scanning direction indicated by arrow “MSD” inFIG. 13 by a mainscan moving unit 493. The mainscan moving unit 493 includes aguide 401, amain scan motor 405, atiming belt 408, and the like. Theguide 401 is bridged between a left-side plate 491A and a right-side plate 491B to movably hold thecarriage 403. Themain scan motor 405 reciprocally moves thecarriage 403 in the main scanning direction MSD via thetiming belt 408 bridged between adrive pulley 406 and a drivenpulley 407. - The
carriage 403 mounts aliquid discharge device 440. Thehead 100 and ahead tank 441 forms theliquid discharge device 440 as a single unit. Thehead 100 has a configuration of one of thehead 100 illustrated inFIGS. 1 to 8 . - The
head 100 of theliquid discharge device 440 discharges color liquids of, for example, yellow (Y), cyan (C), magenta (M), and black (K). Thehead 100 includes a nozzle array including thenozzles 6 arrayed in row in a sub scanning direction indicated by arrow “SSD” perpendicular to the main scanning direction MSD inFIG. 13 . Thehead 100 is mounted to thecarriage 403 so that liquid droplets (ink droplets) are discharged downward from thenozzles 6. - The
printer 500 includes aconveyor 495 to convey asheet 410. Theconveyor 495 includes aconveyance belt 412 as a conveyor and asub scan motor 416 to drive theconveyance belt 412. - The
conveyance belt 412 attracts thesheet 410 and conveys thesheet 410 at a position facing thehead 100. Theconveyance belt 412 is an endless belt stretched between aconveyance roller 413 and atension roller 414. Attraction of thesheet 410 to theconveyance belt 412 may be applied by electrostatic adsorption, air suction, or the like. - The
conveyance belt 412 rotates in the sub scanning direction SSD as theconveyance roller 413 is rotationally driven by thesub scan motor 416 via thetiming belt 417 and the timingpulley 418. - At one side in the main scanning direction MSD of the
carriage 403, amaintenance unit 420 to maintain thehead 100 in good condition is disposed on a lateral side (right side inFIG. 13 ) of theconveyance belt 412. - The
maintenance unit 420 includes, for example, acap 421 to cap anozzle surface 32 of thehead 100, awiper 422 to wipe thenozzle surface 32, and the like. Thenozzle surface 32 is an outer surface of the nozzle substrate 30 (seeFIG. 1 ) on which thenozzles 6 are formed. - The main
scan moving unit 493, themaintenance unit 420, and theconveyor 495 are mounted to a housing that includes the left-side plate 491A, the right-side plate 491B, and a rear-side plate 491C. - In the
printer 500 thus configured, thesheet 410 is conveyed on and attracted to theconveyance belt 412 and is conveyed in the sub scanning direction SSD by a cyclic rotation of theconveyance belt 412. - The
head 100 is driven in response to image signals while thecarriage 403 moves in the main scanning direction MSD, to discharge liquid to thesheet 410 stopped, thus forming an image on thesheet 410. - Next, the
liquid discharge device 440 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure is described with reference toFIGS. 15 and 16 . - The printer 500 (liquid discharge apparatus) according to another embodiment includes the
head 100 or theliquid discharge device 440 according to the present embodiment. - Further, the
liquid discharge device 440 includes thehead 100 and at least one of: ahead tank 441 that stores liquid to be supplied to thehead 100; acarriage 403 on which thehead 100 is mounted; a supply unit that supplies the liquid to thehead 100; amaintenance unit 420 that maintains thehead 100; and a mainscan moving unit 493 to move thehead 100 in the main scanning direction MSD to form a single unit. -
FIG. 15 is a schematic plan view of a main part of a still another example of aliquid discharge device 440. - The
liquid discharge device 440 includes a housing, the mainscan moving unit 493, thecarriage 403, and thehead 100 among components of theprinter 500 inFIG. 13 . The left-side plate 491A, the right-side plate 491B, and the rear-side plate 491C constitute the housing. - Note that, in the
liquid discharge device 440, themaintenance unit 420 described above may be mounted on the right-side plate 491B, for example. -
FIG. 16 is a front view of still another example of theliquid discharge device 440. - The
liquid discharge device 440 includes thehead 100 to which achannel part 444 is attached, and atube 456 connected to thechannel part 444. - Further, the
channel part 444 is disposed inside acover 442. In some embodiments, theliquid discharge device 440 may include thehead tank 441 described above instead of thechannel part 444. Aconnector 443 electrically connected with thehead 100 is provided on an upper part of thechannel part 444. - In the present disclosure, the “liquid discharge apparatus” includes the head or the liquid discharge device and drives the head to discharge liquid. The liquid discharge apparatus may be, for example, an apparatus capable of discharging liquid to a material to which liquid can adhere or an apparatus to discharge liquid toward gas or into liquid.
- The “liquid discharge apparatus” may include units to feed, convey, and eject the material on which liquid can adhere. The liquid discharge apparatus may further include a pretreatment apparatus to coat a treatment liquid onto the material, and a post-treatment apparatus to coat a treatment liquid onto the material, onto which the liquid has been discharged.
- The “liquid discharge apparatus” may be, for example, an image forming apparatus to forum an image on a sheet by discharging ink, or a three-dimensional fabrication apparatus to discharge a fabrication liquid to a powder layer in which powder material is formed in layers to form a three-dimensional fabrication object.
- The “liquid discharge apparatus” is not limited to an apparatus to discharge liquid to visualize meaningful images, such as letters or figures. For example, the liquid discharge apparatus may be an apparatus to form arbitrary images, such as arbitrary patterns, or fabricate three-dimensional images.
- The above-described term “material on which liquid can adhere” represents a material on which liquid is at least temporarily adhered, a material on which liquid is adhered and fixed, or a material into which liquid is adhered to permeate. Examples of the “material on which liquid can adhere” include recording media, such as paper sheet, recording paper, recording sheet of paper, film, and cloth, electronic component, such as electronic substrate and piezoelectric element, and media, such as powder layer, organ model, and testing cell. The “material on which liquid can adhere” includes any material on which liquid is adhered, unless particularly limited.
- Examples of the “material on which liquid can adhere” include any materials on which liquid can adhere even temporarily, such as paper, thread, fiber, fabric, leather, metal, plastic, glass, wood, and ceramic.
- Further, “liquid” discharged from the head is not particularly limited as long as the liquid has a viscosity and surface tension of degrees dischargeable from the head. However, preferably, the viscosity of the liquid is not greater than 30 mPa·s under ordinary temperature and ordinary pressure or by heating or cooling. Examples of the liquid include a solution, a suspension, or an emulsion that contains, for example, a solvent, such as water or an organic solvent, a colorant, such as dye or pigment, a functional material, such as a polymerizable compound, a resin, or a surfactant, a biocompatible material, such as DNA, amino acid, protein, or calcium, or an edible material, such as a natural colorant. Such a solution, a suspension, or an emulsion can be used for, e.g., inkjet ink, surface treatment solution, a liquid for forming components of electronic element or light-emitting element or a resist pattern of electronic circuit, or a material solution for three-dimensional fabrication.
- The “liquid discharge apparatus” may be an apparatus to relatively move the head and a material on which liquid can adhere. However, the liquid discharge apparatus is not limited to such an apparatus. For example, the liquid discharge apparatus may be a serial head apparatus that moves the head or a line head apparatus that does not move the head.
- Examples of the “liquid discharge apparatus” further include a treatment liquid coating apparatus to discharge a treatment liquid to a sheet surface to coat the sheet with the treatment liquid to reform the sheet surface and an injection granulation apparatus to discharge a composition liquid including a raw material dispersed in a solution from a nozzle to mold particles of the raw material.
- The
head 100 according to embodiments as described above has a configuration in which the first line P (line extended from the displacement center R of thediaphragm 3 in the discharge direction) and the second lined (central axis Q extended from the central position of thenozzle 6 in the discharge direction) are aligned (matched). Thus, thehead 100 can efficiently apply a pressure in a vertical direction generated by a displacement of thediaphragm 3 to the meniscus. Thus, thehead 100 can reduce an occurrence of a discharge bending regardless of the positions of the meniscus in thenozzle 6 without using a complicated manufacturing process. - The above-described embodiments are illustrative and do not limit the present invention. Thus, numerous additional modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings. For example, elements and/or features of different illustrative embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of the present invention.
Claims (11)
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2021-013477 | 2021-01-29 | ||
JP2021013477 | 2021-01-29 | ||
JP2021166829A JP2022117415A (en) | 2021-01-29 | 2021-10-11 | Liquid discharge head, head module, head unit, liquid discharge unit, and device for discharging liquid |
JP2021-166829 | 2021-10-11 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20220242123A1 true US20220242123A1 (en) | 2022-08-04 |
Family
ID=82613409
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US17/567,893 Pending US20220242123A1 (en) | 2021-01-29 | 2022-01-04 | Liquid discharge head, head module, head device, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20220242123A1 (en) |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20190224974A1 (en) * | 2018-01-19 | 2019-07-25 | Takakazu KIHIRA | Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge apparatus |
-
2022
- 2022-01-04 US US17/567,893 patent/US20220242123A1/en active Pending
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20190224974A1 (en) * | 2018-01-19 | 2019-07-25 | Takakazu KIHIRA | Liquid discharge head and liquid discharge apparatus |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US10759165B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, including supply and discharge channels,liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
US9925785B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
US9815285B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
US10857793B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, head module, head unit, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
US10730292B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
US10751998B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, liquid discharge apparatus, and head module | |
US11040536B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
US10000066B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
US10696046B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
JP2019142174A (en) | Liquid ejection head, liquid ejection unit, and device for ejecting liquid | |
US11034152B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, head module, head device, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
US10981382B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
US11479042B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, head module, head device, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
JP2019155834A (en) | Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge unit, and liquid discharging device | |
US20220242123A1 (en) | Liquid discharge head, head module, head device, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
US11207890B2 (en) | Head array, head module, discharge unit, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
JP7380066B2 (en) | Liquid ejection head, ejection unit, device that ejects liquid | |
US11247466B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, head module, head device, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
US11472183B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
CN114193928B (en) | Liquid ejecting head, liquid ejecting unit, and apparatus for ejecting liquid | |
US11179938B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, head module, head device, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
JP2020019167A (en) | Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge unit and liquid discharge device | |
US11273643B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge device, and liquid discharge apparatus | |
JP7384007B2 (en) | Liquid ejection head and device that ejects liquid | |
JP7095522B2 (en) | Liquid discharge head, liquid discharge unit, liquid discharge device |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.,, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:HIRABAYASHI, TAKUMA;HIRANO, HIROMICHI;YONETA, RYOHTA;AND OTHERS;SIGNING DATES FROM 20211207 TO 20211210;REEL/FRAME:058535/0739 |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: FINAL REJECTION MAILED |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: DOCKETED NEW CASE - READY FOR EXAMINATION |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: NON FINAL ACTION MAILED |
|
STPP | Information on status: patent application and granting procedure in general |
Free format text: RESPONSE TO NON-FINAL OFFICE ACTION ENTERED AND FORWARDED TO EXAMINER |